If you’re considering renovating/remodeling your home or building a new custom home from the ground up, one of the most (if not, the most) important decisions you can make early on is who you will be hiring to get the job done to your satisfaction. Before starting your interior design project, you need to do extensive research on what design firm will most effectively and efficiently meet your needs. One question that has come up frequently from potential clients is, “What is a design-build firm and how do they differ from traditional interior design firms?” This blog post will answer all of your questions and clear up any confusion you might have about what design-build firms actually do and if hiring one is right for you!

What is Design-Build?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that along with being a service, design-build is a construction delivery method. This means that design-build and interior design are not directly comparable since there is a lot of overlap between the two. In fact, they often go hand-in-hand. Design-build firms are unique in that they offer a streamlined, all-in-one approach to designing and constructing/reconstructing your residential or commercial space.

Design-build can be broken down into five phases: team selection, pre-construction planning, construction and post-construction. More-or-less, design-build firms are designers + construction firms all in one. One of the main benefits of hiring a design-build firm is that the designer/interior designer is involved with your project from the very beginning until the end of the design process. With Chicago’s MOOD Design + Build, you’ll be working directly with Candy Scott, founder of MOOD.

The Pros of Hiring a Design-Build Firm

There’s a clear reason why design-build firms are on the rise in Chicago, across the country and around the world: There are just so many advantages to hiring design-build firms over traditional design or construction firms!

Streamlined Processes

“Design-build streamlines project delivery through a single contract between the owner and the design-build team.” -The Design-Build Institute of America

When you hire a design-build firm, you’re hiring an all-in-one team to manage the entire scope of your project. Unlike traditional interior design firms, design-build firms are involved with your project from the beginning (initial design planning) until the end (final physical construction and design implementation). This significantly reduces the time you need to invest in the project and streamlines the entire design and construction process, making your life easier. With one do-it-all team, the entire process will be made simpler and more efficient.

Single Point-of-Contact

Because you’re entrusting the entire design process to your design-build firm, you will only ever have to communicate with them. If you were to hire your own contractors for design services and construction services, you’d need to keep track of and stay in contact with several different contractors, which can easily become overwhelming and difficult to manage. With a single design-build team, they’ll be your one go-to contact for anything you need during the design-build process of your project.

Cost-Efficiency

Having a single integrated design team will, in the end, drastically reduce project costs. If you were to hire out different designers, decorators, and builders, your costs would skyrocket because of the many different services you’re paying for and the labor you’re hiring. For example, if your designer has a setback, your builder may need to charge additional fees for the mistakes. However, if you have one design-build team, their plan will be in lock-step so as to avoid any additional costs, setbacks or miscommunications.

What is Interior Design?

A common misconception is that all interior designers do is select furniture, paint, decor, etc. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Interior designers are trained professionals who often have a degree in their field. They’re expected to have a working knowledge of textiles, materials, space planning, 2D and 3D software applications (computer-aided design or CAD), structural requirements, building codes, health and safety issues and much more. Interior designers need to be able to work within many different disciplines, including (but not limited to) architecture, furniture design, lighting design, graphic design and decorating.

Ultimately, interior design bridges the gap between aesthetics and functionality of interior spaces, all the while meeting the client's specific needs and stylistic preferences. If you’re considering remodeling or designing your home, it’s important to learn how to work with an interior design firm for the first time.

When to Hire an Interior Design Firm

While design-build firms are great for custom home projects, you’ll be less likely to need one if you’re only refurbishing or redesigning a preexisting home with no plans for remodeling/reconstructing the bones of your home. You should hire an interior design firm if you’re interested in any of the following:

Interior design consultations
Site measurement and assessment
Space planning
Design conception
Paint color and wall covering selections
Finish material selections
Lighting and electrical fixture selections
Curated furniture, accessories or artwork selections
Event or holiday decorating
Custom window treatments

Interior designers often offer several different design services depending on your wants and need for your space. Interior designers can help you discover and uncover your personal stylistic preferences and create a space suited to your personality and lifestyle. If you want the workload of designing, furnishing and decorating a practical and aesthetically pleasing residential or commercial space out of your hands, then hiring an interior design firm is the way to go.

Despite their differences, design-build firms also have many similarities to traditional interior design firms. In fact, MOOD Design + Build offers design-build and traditional interior design, among other services! No matter how big or small the design project, we can help you achieve the space of your dreams. If you’re ready to take the leap and start designing your dream residential or commercial space, contact MOOD Design + Build today.

Design-Build Firms Vs. Interior Design Firms